- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 28 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 26 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) whether SPCB staff are permitted to wear disability awareness lanyards.
Answer
Answer expected on 26 April 2024
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government what the outcome was of the pilot of the NHS Education for Scotland training module on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).
Answer
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 22 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on funding commitments for the research priorities identified in the report of the James Lind Alliance's Priority Setting Partnership for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which was published in May 2022.
Answer
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 21 March 2024
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Fair Fares Review will be published.
Answer
The Scottish Government is pleased to announce that today we will publish the Fair Fares Review.
The Review sets out a range of actions to be taken in the short, medium and long term to make our public transport system more available, accessible and affordable to the people of Scotland, and ensure that it is of high quality, whilst maintaining its long term financial sustainability.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank those stakeholders and delivery partners who have engaged with Transport Scotland on the Review. I look forward to working with them as we progress the Review`s recommendations and actions and make public transport the preferred choice for most people in Scotland.
The Fair Fares Review can be found at:- www.transport.gov.scot/fairfaresreview
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 11 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22254 by Gillian Martin on 30 October 2023, whether it will provide an update on what measures have been implemented to manage non-native gamebird releases where there is potential for highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission from infected gamebirds to (a) native wild birds, (b) other wildlife, (c) dogs and (d) the shooting community.
Answer
On 11 August 2023, Ministers launched the Wild Bird HPAI Response Plan that sets out how the Scottish Government and its partners will respond to any further outbreaks of HPAI in wild birds in Scotland, and this plan remains a live one, with the aim of incorporating evolving science and advice from epidemiologists, virologists and wildlife experts.
Instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 amongst captive birds and wild birds have reduced significantly in Scotland. Since the beginning of the current HPAI outbreak season on 1 October 2023, there have two infected premises in Scotland (both in November 2023) and seven positive findings of the virus in wild birds (with only one finding in 2024).
However, we are aware of the virus continuing to circulate in other parts of Great Britain and Europe, and the risk level for the virus associated with wild birds remains at medium across Great Britain, whereas it is low for kept birds. The Scottish Government continues to promote best practice biosecurity measures to all involved in the game industry, through various forms of media, including regular biosecurity and industry stakeholder meetings.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 18 March 2024
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 16 April 2024
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work to support the enhancement of Channel 4's operations in Scotland, what its position is on Channel 4’s reported proposals to Ofcom for it to retain its 91% production quota for England and introduce a 65% London quota, and what representation it has made to (a) Channel 4 and (b) Ofcom regarding these proposals.
Answer
Answer expected on 16 April 2024
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 5 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government in what ways it encourages the installation of solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage.
Answer
Actions which we have taken and are undertaking to enable greater deployment of solar in Scotland are provided in Annex G of the draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan.
Through our Home Energy Scotland (HES) Grant and Loan Scheme, domestic owner occupiers in Scotland can claim funding for solar PV and energy storage systems. More information can be found on the HES website - Home Energy Scotland Grant and Loan: overview · Home Energy Scotland .
As part of its programme, the Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) provides rolling funding which supports communities, charities, and faith organisations to decarbonise their buildings and reduce energy bills. This includes solar PV and energy storage, where decarbonised heating has also been installed. Let's Do Net Zero Community Buildings Fund · Local Energy Scotland
To support the development of battery energy storage solutions (BESS), the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) has already invested £6.6 million in Aberdeen-based firm Verlume, whose multi-use BESS technology uses intelligent energy management to deliver a constant output of power from renewable sources.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Thursday, 08 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 5 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, as an employer located in the zone, how it is preparing for the enforcement of the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone.
Answer
As an employer located in the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone (LEZ), there are several steps we are taking to prepare for its enforcement:
- Understanding the LEZ regulations: We have familiarized ourselves with the specific regulations of the Edinburgh LEZ, including which vehicles are affected, emission standards, and any exemptions or grace periods. The SPCB as a body is not exempt and the basement car park can only be accessed by vehicles traveling through the LEZ , therefore all vehicles (except those exempted such as blue badge holders and emergency vehicles) using the Parliament car park will need to be compliant. Our car park is small compared to the number of people who access the Parliament each day with only 65 spaces, 47 of which are bookable (including 6 accessible bays and 6 electric charging spaces). More information about the LEZ is available on the City of Edinburgh Council website: Low Emission Zone – The City of Edinburgh Council.
- Our fleet vehicle: The SPCB has one fleet vehicle used for visiting constituency offices. This vehicle has been identified as not compliant with the LEZ, so will be replaced with an electric van.
- Promoting Sustainable Travel: The SPCB Sustainable Travel Plan available here encourages passholders and visitors to adopt sustainable travel patterns and details alternative ways such as public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling or carpooling, to commute and visit Holyrood. We have good rates of sustainable travel to the building, in 2022 21% of building users walked to work, 10% cycled and 45% came by public transport.
- Hybrid working: Since the pandemic the Parliament operates flexible work arrangements with telecommunication facilities. This allows employees to work from home or adjust their work schedules to avoid peak traffic times, opening up more public transport options and reducing the need for commuting into the LEZ.
- Communications Programme: We are planning a suite of communications in the run up to the start date of the LEZ (1st June) which will inform passholders about the LEZ regulations and how they can comply. There will be communication to all those that book parking spaces in the car park at Holyrood and to the wider staff body that access the Parliament building.
By taking these proactive steps, the SPCB can ensure compliance with the Edinburgh Low Emission Zone regulations.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 March 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how the bathing water site designation process will be revised.
Answer
Scotland now has the highest number of designated Bathing Water sites ever, with the vast majority classified as good or excellent and 98% overall achieving the bathing water quality standards. Under the Bathing Water (Scotland) Regulations 2008, Scottish Ministers are required to designate an area of surface water (coastal or inland) as a bathing water where they expect a large number of people to bathe, having regard to past trends and infrastructure and facilities provided, or other measures taken to promote bathing.
The Scottish Government is not currently planning on revising the bathing water site designation process and continues to work with Environmental Standards Scotland in line with the Summary Report on Designation of Bathing Water Sites published by Environmental Standards Scotland published on 4 December 2023.
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 02 February 2024
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Current Status:
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 29 February 2024
To ask the Scottish Government when the guidance for conducting transport assessments for planning applications will be updated in line with the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Answer
Transport Scotland's Transport Assessment Guidance (2012) is the current guidance for conducting transport assessments for planning applications. We are currently monitoring the practical implementation and impact of policies contained within National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) and considering whether, and what, amendments to the transport assessment guidance may be required.